Town's plans for the North Stand have this morning received consent from Ipswich Borough Council. There are conditions, such as the setting up of a Green Travel Policy and buying the nearest house to the development but these are not likely to hold the work up.

Town chairman David Sheepshanks said: "I am clearly very pleased that our application received unanimous approval of the meeting. We have invested in some of the best architects in the world to produce a design that both combines the club's requirements for added capacity and better facilities with the need to produce an attractive exterior that will enhance the local area."

He continued: "This development is fundamental to the future of the club. We have taken and continue to take a long term view by investing £25 million in the stadium and its surrounds. A successful Ipswich Town provides unquantifable benefits toward the economic development of the town and the county. That said, we quite understand the concerns of the local residents and we take our responsibility as neighbours seriously. We have incorporated a number of their requests within our plans and we will meet with them regularly in a newly formed liaison group to try and ease any concerns that arise during the building process."

Of the conditions set by the council Sheepshanks said: "We have already committed in writing to the Council that we will purchase the end house and contribute to the relocation of the homeless shelter situated there at a price to be agreed by independent valuation. Hopefully this can be concluded in the next two weeks to enable us to begin work immediately after the final home match, thereby making full use of the close season for demolition and re-construction."

Some local residents had objected to the development and planned to make representations at the meeting this morning. The current North Stand's final game will be the match with Manchester City on May 7th. Demolition will begin shortly afterwards.

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